Winter Olympics Mountain Springs Style

Mountain Springs Winter Motto!

     We, at Mountain Springs, are officially ready for the Winter Olympics!  When the snow piled up to 6 inches in the yard, we knew it was time to pull out the Flexible Flyer.  Actually, this is our second Flexible Flyer.  I still remember our first one (which we still have).

     We lived in Benton, and school was dismissed early that day because of an increasingly heavy snowfall!  Jack had to drive a bus and Jay, 8 years old at the time, was waiting for me to pick him up at his school.  The roads were becoming hazardous, and I needed to get home, but something made me detour to the nearest hardware store (no Walmart at the time!).  I had to buy a sled.   I had no idea what to kind to get since I had never owned a sled, much less ridden one!  (Hadn't needed one-- it was hard to find a good sledding hill in South Arkansas where I grew up!)   I bought the last Flexible Flyer on the shelf, probably paying for it out of the grocery money!  For the next two weeks, we and all our neighbors on Hickory Hill spent our days on that sled--drinking hot chocolate and arguing with the kids over who gets the sled next! 

     What a thrill when I made my first run down the hill!  From that time on, sledding has been my wintertime passion!  Oh, the sheer joy of flying down the hill through the soft snow, guiding the sled by gently pulling the bar left or right so as to keep on the trail!  No other sport (that I participate in)  is so exhilarating.  I can relate to those Jamacian bobsledders!

     I am not as "young as I used to be", (I know that's what you were thinking!) but I figure sledding is probably a fairly safe sport, coming in right after swimming.  After all, you are six inches off the ground and the ground is covered with a thick snow cushion! Just be sure to steer the sled!  Which is why those new little "plastic dishpans" don't do the job.

     We had a good day of sledding yesterday on our Mountain Springs "snow sledding venue". 

The snowbase was perfect, with the thin layer of ice on bottom.  We have the 'bunny slope' which doesn't require experience, and any sort of sled will work--however, plastic bags are a little rough on the 'behind'! 

     Then we have the 'extreme slope'--our quarter mile driveway!  From the top, it looks like one of those Olympic ski slopes--well, kind of.  Anyway, it is one fun ride--all the way down to the mailboxes--gliding through the snow--building up speed as you descend--sled and rider as one--flowing  with the curves in the road--snow and wind in your face!  Wow! let's go one more time!
     I am a little sore today, but everything is still intact!  After thinking about the fun we had, I may have to have a go at it one more time tomorrow before the sun heats things up.

"Youth is wasted on the young" or something like that--not sure who first made this statement, but at one time or another we have all thought it!

 

    

       

The Snow Fell Softly

Daisy the Snow Dog

     The snow fell softly all the night.

It made a blanket soft and white.

It covered houses, flowers and ground,

But did not make a single sound!

Alice Wilkins

     All week we were advised to get ready for a winter storm.  After last year's dramatic ice storm, we all heeded the warning:

Generators--check

candles--check 

gas cans filled--check

extra batteries--check

cell phones charged--check

hay for horses--check

neighbors contacted--check

sleds out of storage--check

milk, bread, and hot chocolate--check

We, as well as the rest of Northwest Arkansas were ready for a winter blast!

The ice on the windshield formed as we drove home from Green Forest where we had gone for a few last minute supplies.  That night the freezing rain turned to sleet, then, the snow came.  What a relief to see those flakes since that meant no more freezing on the trees.  It was snowing hard at bedtime, snowing hard in the night when I slipped out of bed to check, and snowing hard at daybreak. Sometimes blowing flakes went sideways and they passed by the windows. We were caught up in such a whirl of snow that from our view on the mountain, the world was one big snow storm!

If I were to order a perfect day, this had to be it.  Sitting by the window, good book in hand, dogs at my side (curled under the blanket), cup of hot tea nearby, nowhere important to go, family at home where they belong (Jay had just flown home from another trip to China the day before), and the electricity was working!

I guess what made it so very special is that on this day, 44 years ago, Jack and I were married--one of the area's worst snow storms had moved through South Arkansas the day before.  Last minute changes were made--Maid of Honor couldn't get from Little Rock, neither could the groomsmen.  The flowers for the reception froze in the back room (with heat on!) Nonetheless, the wedding took place.  The honeymoon was postponed until summer since the roads north were impassable.  By the way, the honeymoon destination was North Arkansas.  Over forty years later, here we are and loving it!

     The spur of delight comes in small ways.

    Robert L. Stevenson

Wintertime and the Livin' Is...

not always easy!!!  We have had freezing temps down to 1 degree with wind chills in the minuses.  But today was beautiful!  We decided to take a trip on the four-wheelers to celebrate the warmer temps----

View of Mountain Springs from House/Goff Ranch

     I love my four-wheeler, and we have taken many rides through the years with friends--sometimes on their property.  Those trips "off the beaten path" are always exhilarating and a little nerve racking!  Nothing is ever flat!!  But the scenery is unbelieveably beautiful. I am grateful to them for sharing with us.

     Our trip today started from the house (you can see our house at the very top of the picture). We made a short drive on the highway before turning off, unlocking the gate, and making our way slowly (in "Grannie gear" for me!) down the muddy mountain.  The rocky road lead us around the pond and across an earthen dam.  The dam is about 100 feet tall and very narrow.  We always wonder if it will survive the next heavy rainfall.  It was muddy today.  As I crossed, I could see little sections of earth that had caved in on the sides during the snow melt.  Then we traveled slowly up the other side of the mountain and through another gate to the open pastures.  A herd of curious black cows rushed to meet us thinking we were bringing hay. 

     We made our way through the pastures once covered with snow--now covered with mud and muck, and then on to the top where the view anytime of year is breathtaking!  We stopped and look back at the mountain where our house and cabin and the neighbors' places look much like a spot on a Google map.  Below our mountain, you can see the road as it winds around the edge and drops down into the valley.

     I am always in awe at the view.  The sky was a brilliant azure blue with no clouds.  The blue touched the brown and gray of the pastures and bare woods in a clear line across the horizon.  I always say a prayer of thanks for the opportunity to see such a sight as this.  When I look in the opposite direction, there is an old barn and bare oak tree silhouletted against that blue sky background.  Another "thank you, Lord."  We also thank our neighbors who graciously allow us to tresspass on their beautiful farm!

     It is still just January, and many more cold days ahead.  "Let it snow, let it snow!"  Sitting by the fire in a  cozy house, under a warm blanket with a cup of hot tea in hand on a cold day also ellicits a "Thank you, Lord".  We are all so blessed.

     As I write this, I hear our television news report on the heartbreaking stories coming from Haiti.  Please join me in prayer for all the brave people there who are devastated by the earthquake.  Pray for the volunteers and workers who will try to make some headway in relieving their suffering.  Pray for our United States of America!

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,

a refuge in times of trouble.

And those who know Your name

will put their trust in You;

for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

   Psalm 9:9-10